Title: Blank! by Kenton
Medium: DVD
Arena: Close up
Available: Any shop, distributed by Murphys Magic Supplies

This DVD was refreshing because you get a couple of routines using blank decks, thus the name, but you don’t have to listen to any discussion about pseudo psychology. Points to Kenton for that. Once again we join Kenton at his house and the quality is fine. The sound has a hollowness to it but no biggie. Kenton gives two routines here. The first routine is Sleightly Touched and consist of you pulling out a prediction card from the deck and the spectator counting down cards from the deck until they feel the need to stop. That stack is counted down into two piles and the top card of one pile indicates the suit of the prediction and the top card of the second stack the value. The rest of the cards are shown to be blank. Right now, just based on what I said, 90% of the card guys know exactly how to do this trick having seen Daryls version or seen the routine in a number of magazines or videos. The only thing added here is the use of the blank deck and the handling on showing without showing that it is a normal deck. This isn’t a magician fooler, I knew what the score was as soon as the spectator was asked to put the cards in two piles. It is a cool trick though, always has been, and the blank deck is interesting but I don’t know how much it really adds to it and you lose the benefit of having a working deck on hand. If you don’t know the trick you’ll like it though, and if you are a blank deck fan, and some of you are, you’ll like it.

The second effect is Mates For Life and based on Gemini Twins, a Brother Hamman effect I believe. Again this is pretty standard fair, easy to do, and the contribution by Kenton is the blank deck shown after the effect is pretty much over. Same rules apply as the first routine. If you like doing blank deck work then this is right up your alley or if you want to learn a new routine. There is absolutely nothing wrong with either of the effects and the title of the DVD kind of gives away the addition so it is up to you. Makes For Life is a nice trick to do for a couple and if working restaurants or parties you can make some happy people doing this effect. If this sounds like a couple of routines you’ll like to learn this is a quick way to do so. Not much else to say.

Thanks for the review, MagicSanta